HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESHB 2802

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Passed House:

February 8, 2018

Title: An act relating to expanded learning opportunities.

Brief Description: Concerning expanded learning opportunities.

Sponsors: House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Kloba, Johnson, Stonier, Macri, Valdez, Fey and Stanford).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Education: 1/25/18, 1/30/18 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/8/18, 98-0.

Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill

  • Reconstitutes the Expanded Learning Opportunities Council as the Expanded Learning Opportunities Advisory Council (ELOAC) within the Center for the Improvement of Student Learning.

  • Establishes new and modified duties for the ELOAC and a June 30, 2021, expiration date.

  • Repeals a temporary Summer Knowledge Improvement Pilot Program established in 2014.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Santos, Chair; Dolan, Vice Chair; Stonier, Vice Chair; Harris, Ranking Minority Member; Muri, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bergquist, Caldier, Lovick, Ortiz-Self, Senn, Slatter, Stokesbary and Valdez.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 3 members: Representatives Hargrove, McCaslin and Steele.

Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 1 member: Representative Johnson.

Staff: Ethan Moreno (786-7386).

Background:

In 2014 the Legislature established the 17-member Expanded Learning Opportunities Council (ELOC) to advise the Governor, the Legislature, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) on a comprehensive expanded learning opportunities system, with particular attention paid to solutions to summer learning loss. Provisions establishing and governing the ELOC expire August 31, 2019.

For purposes of the ELOC and its duties, "expanded learning opportunities" is defined to mean:

In addition to providing guidance and assistance related to expanded learning opportunities, the ELOC is required to:

The membership of the ELOC is as follows:

The 2014 legislation directed the SPI to convene the ELOC, and staffing support is provided by the OSPI and other state agencies as necessary.

Center for the Improvement of Student Learning.

The Center for the Improvement of Student Learning (CISL), housed at the OSPI, serves as a clearinghouse for information, promising practices, and research that promotes and supports effective learning environments for all students, especially those in underserved communities. The duties of the CISL are contingent on funds appropriated for the purpose.

Washington Community Learning Center Program.

In 2007 the Legislature established the Washington Community Learning Center Program (Program). The Program, which is administered by the OSPI, supports out-of-school activities by school districts and community-based organizations such as academic tutoring, mentoring, recreational activities, counseling and character education, arts and music education, and other enrichment programs. Subject to the availability of funding, the OSPI may award Program grants to public and private organizations that meet specific eligibility criteria. Funding for the program was discontinued in the 2009-2011 Operating Budget.

Summer Knowledge Improvement Pilot Program.

In 2014 the Legislature established the Summer Knowledge Improvement Pilot Program (Pilot Program) to provide state funding for an additional 20 student learning days for three consecutive school years in selected schools. The stated purpose of the Pilot Program was to implement an extended school year qualifying schools to combat summer learning loss, and provide an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of an extended school year in improving student achievement, closing the educational opportunity gap, and providing successful models for other districts to follow. Funding for the Pilot Program concluded in fiscal year 2017. Provisions establishing and governing the Pilot Program are scheduled to expire on August 31, 2019.

Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill:

The Expanded Learning Opportunities Council (ELOC) is reconstituted within the Center for the Improvement of Student Learning (CISL) as the Expanded Learning Opportunities Advisory Council (ELOAC). The CISL is responsible for providing administrative and technical support to the ELOAC. Provisions establishing the ELOAC and prescribing its duties expire on June 30, 2021.

Provisions requiring the ELOC to identify fiscal, resource, and partnership opportunities are modified to require the ELOAC to also identify funding opportunities under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, and to identify funding partnership opportunities with community-based organizations. The ELOAC is furthermore directed, as appropriate, to work collaboratively with other entities, including the EOGOAC, the Work-Integrated Learning Advisory Committee proposed in Second Substitute Bill 1600, and appropriate staff within the OSPI.

New membership and governance provisions for the ELOAC are established. The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) is charged with appointing members to the ELOAC, and a representative of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families is added to its membership, as are two additional representatives from regional workforce development councils. The ELOAC must also elect a chair and vice chair from among its membership.

With respect to reporting duties, the SPI is added to the list of recipients for the ELOAC's annual reports, and a recipient reference to the "Legislature" is changed to the education committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The contents of the ELOAC's annual report are increased and must include a gap analysis that identifies, at the school district level, where expanded learning opportunity gaps exist for certain student populations, school districts, or both, and whether the provision of additional expanded learning opportunities would enhance student academic achievement. The analysis required for the 2018 report must be a preliminary analysis, with a full analysis required in each subsequent annual report.

Additionally, the 2018 annual report of the ELOAC must include a review of the Washington Community Learning Center Program (Program). The purpose of the review is to ensure that the Program properly and effectively aligns with the duties and objectives of the ELOAC. In completing the review, the ELOAC must make any necessary recommendations for better aligning Program provisions with the duties and objectives of the ELOAC.

Other duties related to reducing summer learning loss and increasing expanded learning opportunities are modified. If funds are appropriated for initiatives to reduce summer learning loss or increase expanded learning opportunities, the ELOAC must advise the OSPI on the awarding of related grants to prioritize districts with gaps identified in the analysis required in the ELOAC's annual report, and satisfy other requirements.

Provisions establishing and governing the Summer Knowledge Improvement Pilot Program are repealed.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Children who grow up in poverty have different experiences from those grow up in middle class environments.  This bill will take the work of the Expanded Learning Opportunities Council (ELOC) and leverage it in a statewide capacity.  The idea of utilizing expanded learning opportunities, such as practicing math in cooking courses that use fractions to measure ingredients, will help students across the education spectrum.

The ELOC has made strong recommendations and is ready to implement them.  The ELOC should be extended and restructured as an advisory committee to support districts and expanded learning providers.  These programs support academic learning, social emotional learning, and career building skills.  Expanded learning is the insulation in the kindergarten through grade twelve pipeline.

The challenges that providers face in implementing expanded learning programs are numerous.  This bill will extend the work of the ELOC—this is very important to providers. The important work of implementing a framework to support providers and to help students should continue.  Without extension, the 3.5 years of work by the ELOC will be lost. The work of the ELOC is especially important in rural areas.  Expanded learning programs impact the trajectory of kids' lives. 

One part of education is inspiring kids to learn, and expanded learning programs help to do this.  The work of the ELOC has informed the Legislature.  Moving the ELOC into the Center for the Improvement of Student Learning (CISL), where it will align well with the actions of the CISL, will help to promote the ELOC's work.  Continuity of membership on the ELOC is important, and stakeholders will be considering language to retain continuity.

Libraries are collaborating with expanded learning providers to help with services and resources.  Preserving the ELOC will help to promote this work.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Kloba, prime sponsor; David Beard, School's Out Washington; Bill Hanawalt, Expanded Learning Opportunities Council; Lucinda Young, Washington Education Association; and Carolyn Logue, Washington Library Association.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.